Watercraft Light

ABSTRACT

A watercraft includes a light source illuminated in response to a sound signal. The light source may be a decorative light or color coded to function as a port light, a starboard light, or an aft light. The sound source may be from a wireless transmission, line level output from a media player, or speaker output from media player, as examples.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to watercraft lights.

RELATED ART DESCRIPTIONS

Watercraft lights used for navigation are typically limited by color to green, red, and white. Control of the navigation lights is typically limited to ON and OFF.

BRIEF DRAWING DESCRIPTIONS

FIG. 1 depicts a personal watercraft including lights synchronized to music or sound in accordance with disclosed embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view from the front of the personal watercraft from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts a controller for synchronizing lights in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 to music, sound or other input;

FIG. 4 shows a watercraft paddle with lights synchronized with the lights in FIG. 1 in FIG. 2 or otherwise controlled by the controller in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 shows a cross-section view of a personal watercraft hull with transparent portions and light sources on the inside of the watercraft.

SUMMARY OF DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

An exemplary embodiment is a watercraft with a hull. It includes a light source and a controller for synchronizing operation of the light source with a sound signal. The personal watercraft may include a translucent hull portion with the light source positioned to show through the translucent portion. Alternatively, substantially all of the hull may be covered in translucent material. In some embodiments, the personal watercraft includes a microphone input for receiving sound as the sound signal.

The personal watercraft may include a controller that is sensitive to sound and enabled for controlling the output (e.g., turning on, affecting the brightness, etc.) of a light emitting diode (LED). In some embodiments, the controller includes an input for receiving an external signal (e.g., an audio OUT signal from a media player or other line level output) as the sound signal. The signal may be wired or wireless (e.g., Bluetooth™).

The controlled light source may be standard green and red navigation lights. In other embodiments , the light source includes red, green and blue bulbs. The red, green and blue lights may be light emitting diodes or incandescent bulbs.

Other embodiments are personal watercrafts with a substantially watertight hulls having a translucent portion. They further include a light source for showing through the translucent portion when operating and a controller for causing the light source to operate in synchronization with a music source. In various embodiments, the music source couples to a media player, microphone, or electronic memory. The light source may include a light emitting diode or other suitable light used in a watercraft for navigation, decoration, or for visibility.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 depicts watercraft 100. As shown, watercraft 100 is a personal watercraft such as a kayak. Watercraft 100 includes shock cord 108 for storage. Shock cord 108 may include lights controlled in accordance with disclosed embodiments. Seat 120 includes a backrest 102. Cockpit ring 118 provides a buffer between a user and the watercraft. Stern light 104 is illuminated during night time usage and may be controlled in accordance with disclosed embodiments. For example, stern light 104 can be synchronized to music, synchronized to sound, flashed periodically, turned on, or otherwise controlled. Bow light 110 and the other light sources may be likewise controlled. Hull light 112 is attached to the inside or outside of front hull 116 and its output is controlled by a controller as contemplated by disclosed embodiments. The outputs of optional front submerged light 114 and rear hull light 106 are likewise controlled by the controller.

FIG. 2 includes further details of watercraft 100 from FIG. 1. Front cross section view 200 includes components that are identical to or similar to those shown in FIG. 1. As shown, a portion of front hull 116 is submerged below waterline 205. Accordingly, front submerged light 114 is waterproof. Its output is controlled by controller 213. Likewise, front submerged light 209 is submerged and has its output controlled by controller 213. As shown, front submerged light 114 is on the port side of the watercraft and front submerged light 209 is on the starboard side and the front of the watercraft comes out of the page. Front hull 211 includes front hull light 203. Likewise, front hull 116 includes front hull light 112. Controller 213 is coupled to front hull light 203, front hull light 112, front submerged light 114, and front submerged light 209. They may be coupled through wires or wirelessly to the controller. Each light may include its own power source, or may be powered by a source it shares with controller 213. In some embodiments, bow light 110 and bow light 201 are also controlled by controller 213.

Various lighting technologies (e.g., LED, LCD, fiber optic, incandescent, fluorescent) may be used for bow light 110, bow light 201, front submerged light 209, front submerged light 114, front hull light 203, and front hull light 112. In some embodiments, front hull light 112 is a light strip that includes red, green, and blue outputs that can be mixed by controller 213 to achieve any color. The strip may be glued, fastened, or otherwise integrated into front hull 116.

FIG. 3 illustrates additional details of an embodiment of controller 213 from FIG. 2. As shown, controller 213 includes antenna 302. Antenna 302 may be used for Bluetooth communication with a music source, or for communicating with lights such as bow light 201, bow light 110, front hull light 112, and so on. Controller 213 includes speaker 324 producing sound output that may be synchronize with the light output of lights controlled by controller 213. In the event lights controlled by controller 213 are hardwired to control 213, outputs such as navigation output 304, submerged light output 306, and hull light output 308 are provided. Hull light output 308 would be coupled to, for example, front hull light 116, and front hull light 211 (from FIG. 2). In addition, hull light output 308 may be coupled to rear hull light 106 (FIG. 1). Similarly, navigation output 304 may be coupled to bow light 110, bow light 201, and one or more stern lights such as stern light 104. Front hull light 112 may be used as a navigation light with its input commonly tied to bow light 110. Similarly, front hull light 203 may have its input tied commonly to the input to bow light 201. In such cases, navigation output 304 may be tied to the inputs of these hull lights so that they function as navigation lights. Similarly, front submerged light 114 and front submerged light 209 may have their inputs tied to navigation output 304 so they function as navigation lights. Typically, as is commonly known to those who operate watercraft, navigation lights such as bow light 110 and bow light 201 are either red or green in color. In contrast, stern light 104 would typically be white in color.

Controller 213 in FIG. 3. includes power input 318 which may receive, for example, 12 volt DC power from a watercraft battery or other source. Memory 316 is for storing music, signals, data, schemes, programs, or information for synchronizing or otherwise controlling the light sources on the watercraft. In accordance with disclosed embodiments, controller 213 synchronizes the outputs of hull lights, navigation lights, and submerged lights (in some combination) with music. Power supply 314 provides an optional onboard power supply for powering controller 213. In addition, power supply 314 may power navigation lights, submerged lights, or hull lights. Line level input 312 receives music input controller 213 uses to synchronize the outputs of light sources such as hull lights, submerged lights, or navigation lights. Likewise, microphone 310 optionally provides controller 213 with audio input to affect (e.g., synchronize to) the output of the lights. Speaker 320, in some embodiments, provides sound output simultaneously with controller 213 controlling the output of the lights.

Controller 213 affects whether particular lights are on, the brightness of the lights, and the color of the lights. Such control over the lights is done simultaneously in some embodiments to provide a desired output. For example, controller 213 may be configured to turn on standard navigation lights while also providing submerged lights with controls signals to pulsate ON and OFF with the drum beat of a song stored in memory 316 and played over speaker 320. In some embodiments, controller 213 responds to voice commands (e.g., “turn on navigation lights) received over microphone 310 to cause navigation lights to turn on.

FIG. 4 illustrates paddle 400 for watercraft 100 from FIG. 1. As shown, paddle 400 optionally includes blade light 401 and blade light 405. Blade lights 401 and 405 may be powered by batteries local to paddle 400 or by an external power source (e.g., power supply 314 in FIG. 3 or indirectly through power input 318). Likewise paddle 400 optionally includes handle light 403 and handle light 407. Each of these handle lights may be powered similarly to blade lights 401 and 405. Each of the lights may controlled through control signals sent wirelessly or through a wired connection which may also serve as a tether between watercraft 100 and paddle 400.

A disclosed embodiment is a personal watercraft (e.g., watercraft 100 in FIG. 1) with one or more light sources such as front hull light 112 (FIG. 1) and front submerged light 114 (FIG. 1). The embodiment includes a controller such as controller 213 (FIG. 2). The controller synchronizes operation of the light sources with a sound signal. For example, controller 213 has a memory 316 with stored music. The stored music generates or represents a sound signal and controller 213 determines when to brighten or turn on the light source (e.g. front hull light 112 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2).

Watercraft 100 in FIG. 1 or other embodied watercraft may include translucent hull portions. The translucent or transparent portions may include a glass window installed in the hull. Alternatively, the entire hull may be a translucent or transparent material. For example, FIG. 5 illustrates a cross section 500 of a watercraft with translucent portion 502 and transparent portion 504. Translucent portion 502 is in proximity to hull light 506, which is inside the watercraft. When hull light 506 is illuminated, light shows through translucent portion 502. Likewise, when submerged light 508 is illuminated, light shows through transparent portion 504, which is submerged under water. Submerged light 508 is inside the watercraft, and preferably is not submerged in water.

Controller 213 in FIG. 3 includes microphone 310. The microphone may be extended from the physical body of controller 213 and extended under water or attached to a paddle (e.g., paddle 400 in FIG. 4). Controller 213, when enabled with a microphone, is a sound sensitive controller. To the extent any light that controller 213 controls is a light emitting diode (LED), controller 213 can be described as a sound sensitive light emitting diode controller. As shown, controller 213 includes line level input 312, which receives an external signal as a sound signal.

Smart phones often perform as music players (e.g., media players) and may be used to provide input to line level input 31, for example via a stereo speaker jack. Alternatively, antenna 302 may receive a Bluetooth protocol signal or similar signal from a smart phone or other media player with music data used by controller 213 to synchronize outputs to the music (e.g., via navigation output 304, submerged output 306, or hull light output 308). The outputs are synchronized to music and used to control lights by adjusting their brightness and color. In some embodiments, the lights are simply turned on. In other embodiments, the color, intensity, and other characteristics of the lights are affected by controller 213. Controller 213 may respond to a remote control signal received over radio waves or via an infrared signal (e.g., via antenna 302, which is shown for illustration purposes and not intended to limit technologies for receiving signals to a particular type, physical phenomenon, or protocol).

Objects that embody the appended claims may be described herein as “exemplary embodiments” or similar terms. Such descriptions are meant to indicate examples of claim subject matter. The descriptions are not meant to suggest, by use of the term “exemplary,” that one embodiment is better than another object. 

What is claimed:
 1. A watercraft comprising: a hull; a light source; and a controller for synchronizing operation of the light source with a sound signal.
 2. The personal watercraft of claim 1, further comprising: a translucent hull portion; wherein the light source is positioned to show through the translucent portion.
 3. The personal watercraft of claim 1; wherein substantially all of the hull is covered in translucent material.
 4. The personal watercraft of claim 1, further comprising: a microphone input for receiving sound as the sound signal.
 5. The personal watercraft of claim 4, wherein the microphone is substantially water-proof.
 6. The personal watercraft of claim 1, further comprising: a sound sensitive light emitting diode controller.
 7. The personal watercraft of claim 1, further comprising: an input for receiving an external signal as the sound signal.
 8. The personal watercraft of claim 7: wherein the input is for a line level output from a media player.
 9. The personal watercraft of claim 7: wherein the input is for a wireless signal.
 10. The personal watercraft of claim 9: wherein the wireless signal conforms to Bluetooth protocols.
 11. The personal watercraft of claim 7: wherein the light source includes a green light and a red light.
 12. The personal watercraft of claim 7: wherein the light source includes red, green and blue lights.
 13. The personal watercraft of claim 12: wherein the red, green and blue lights include light emitting diodes.
 14. A personal watercraft comprising: a substantially watertight hull with a translucent portion; a light source for showing through the translucent portion when operating; and a controller for causing the light source to operate in synchronization with a music source.
 15. The personal watercraft of claim 14, wherein the music source couples to a media player.
 16. The personal watercraft of claim 14, wherein the music source couples to a microphone.
 17. The personal watercraft of claim 14, wherein the music source is electronic memory.
 18. The personal watercraft of claim 14, wherein the light source includes a light emitting diode. 